The community of those who follow Christ is described in the New
Testament Book of Acts. This early community
is described in dynamic terms,
committed to living out the Gospel and often suffering for that commitment.
God's purposes for this New Humanity is spoken of in the New Testament the
loftiest terms.

The Unevenness of Christian Community: Christian community
was not however perfect in its origins, and it will come as no surprise,
today Christian community also
has its flaws - simply because it is composed of human beings, individuals in various stages in the process of
following Christ. The community includes both mature believers who have
made great strides in loving one another,
and those who have been deeply wounded
by sin, participate in the community out of tradition or for lesser motives, or are
even without a
personal vital link to Christ or His promised Holy Spirit. (Jesus
pictures, in John 15,
this vital link with Himself to be like the organic connection between a grape vine and its
fruit-bearing branches. Growth in Christ-likeness is dependent on vital
connection with Christ.)

As a result of this mixture the quality of the
community of those who follow Jesus is, and has been, uneven. (Jesus speaks of
this in a parable in Matthew 13 which compares it to weeds and wheat growing in
a single field.) This unevenness produces points at which this community hasn't
risen to its calling - and critics of the church
often have valid points. At other points, members of communities of those
following Jesus are, often quietly and unobtrusively, salt and light bringing
grace and redemption to places of darkness and quiet pain. In fact, the results
of this healing and helping reality are widespread
and here for good. (Please
click both previous links.)

The Necessity of Christian
Community: Despite the unevenness of
Christian community, very few of those who follow Christ can do so
without the support and encouragement of some expression of that community.
For this reason I encourage you to find or form community which will help you
in your walk and expression of the mission of Christ.

The Many Expressions of
Christian Community: I know many readers will
think "community = church" and that equation is entirely understandable. After
all, the term "church" has a strong role in the history of the movement of those
who follow Christ and will not soon be abandoned because Jesus Himself used the
term to speak of those who are "called out" of the world and into His Kingdom
for the redemptive purpose of God in healing His broken world.

Yet the historical form and
expression of "church" has been greatly influenced by the decision of Emperor
Constantine in 313 AD to declare all the Roman Empire to be "Christian" and the
resulting "church" to which believers and non-believers were invited was
immediately diluted by a wide range of influences.

A more helpful term and image in my
experience is simply that of community - "disciple-making community," "missional
community," "worshipping community" or the like - in order to
return
to Jesus intention and example. These expressions will be found in many churches
and most followers of Jesus can find a community of those who follow Him within
walking distance. I strongly encourage you to do so.

Forming a Vital Expression
of Christian Community: If this is not available I would encourage you to find a like-hearted friend and
together form the embryo of a simple
community committed to Christ and growing in the basic spiritual disciplines of
prayer, Bible reading and meditation, worship and loving service to those around
you. This isn't easy but the community of
those who follow Christ is vital to growth in Him.